Family
Peaceful Vacation
Our family is currently enjoying a relaxing week of vacation at Hilton Head Island. Emily, Sammie, and I hit the road early Saturday and took a nice an easy drive to Knoxville, TN. Along the way, we stopped for a picnic and enjoyed the beautiful spring weather. Saturday evening, we stayed in a lovely hotel and enjoyed the indoor pool and a meal at everyone’s favorite…the Cracker Barrel. Sunday morning, we woke up, had breakfast at the hotel, and hit the road. We stopped for another picnic in North Carolina (around Asheville). We stopped again in Columbia, SC for some ice cream and then floored it the rest of the way to the condo.
Hilton Head has been absolutely wonderful. We have made daily trips to the beach (which is maybe two blocks from our condo) to play in the sand (Sammie put her fit in and said “I don’t want to go in the ocean anymore”). Emily and I have taken long walks each morning along the beach (it’s been nice being able to leave Sammie with my family so we can hit the beach alone. it’s almost like we’re one of those wealthy families who take their nannies on vacation!). Around 8am, we have spotted a good number of dolphins fairly close to the shoreline. And, when we arrived, my dad told me to look in the fridge. He said, “Since you always complain that I never have any thing you like in my fridge, I bought you something at the store!” A nice six-pack from a local microbrewery!
Last night, we walked down to a nice little seafood joint. We consumed mass quantities of fresh fish and bottom-feeders while sitting outside. And, to make the deal even sweeter, my sister picked up the tab!
Today, we went to a stable and Papaw Bob and Mamaw Jan purchased some pony rides for Sammie. The pony ride went around a small animal farm (llamas, pigs, sheep, goats, chickens, pigs, rabbits, etc). Sammie was loving it! As she got more and more comfortable, she began to only hold onto the saddle with one hand! She was thrilled. After the pony ride, we went to a playground near a “harbor”. I walked around and admired the large yachts! After spending time on our friends boat this summer, I truly understand the desire to be “boat people.” It’s peaceful, relaxing, and fun! So, I have a couple of boats picked out down here!
Right now, everyone is napping. I went for a bike ride around the island. It was beautiful. I saw a few alligators in small ponds along the bike trail.
Overall, this has been a very relaxing and peaceful vacation. We have been blessed in being able to come to Hilton Head. We needed some time away. I have a tendency to get fairly apathetic about Muncie and need to get away from time to time. It brings about a certain type of refreshing and regeneration that gives me the drive and energy I need to keep on keepin’ on! In other words, time away from Muncie, the church, etc., makes me a better person!
So, I hope to continue enjoying some much needed rest and time away. My cell phone is off (I check my voicemail once a day). I’m not responding to e-mails (I check it, but I figure it all can wait). I’m taking some time here and there to work on my sermon for Sunday (I did a lot of work before we left so I could just do some minor studying and tweaking after everyone else goes to bed).
Right now, I plan to shut down the computer, pour a nice pint of my favorite beverage, and try to decide if I’m going to have cannoli, tiramisu, or German chocolate brownies for dessert!
Pictures will be coming soon!
Ash Wednesday
Last night, we started our Lenten journey by observing Ash Wednesday. We joined together to come face-to-face with our sinful nature, to repent of our sin, and receive the grace, love, and mercy that comes from Jesus.
At the end of the service, people came forward to dispose of their sin (we wrote down things that separate us from God on small cards and threw them in a large trash can) and receive the sign of the cross on our foreheads.
After the service was over, I was gathering my things and Emily and Sammie came down the aisle. Sammie asked if she could get a cross too. My answer was, “of course!”
I got the ashes, gave a two-year-old interpretation of what it mean, and made the sign of the cross on her forehead. She was very serious about the whole thing. Then, she wanted her mom to show her what it looked like in the mirror.
When we got home, Emily and Sammie went into the bathroom to get cleaned up for bedtime. Sammie came out with a washcloth so I could wipe my cross off. I asked her if I had wiped it all off and she said, “Well, I guess that’s the best you can do.”
It was a great night!
Christmas Stuff…A Little Late
What Do You Want For Christmas?
This is a question we tend to hear from family and friends. And, this is a question that we may ask others. What do you want for Christmas?
I’ve heard this several times lately. Various people have asked me to give them a list of things I want for Christmas. But, making lists of gifts I want just seems bizarre.
If I make a list and then don’t receive what’s on the list I’ll find myself wondering what the point was in the list. If I don’t make a list, I’m almost setting myself up for disaster. But, I feel like, if you really want to get me something, surprise me…get me something that you think I’d like (it’s sort of a test to see if you really know me).
But, in reality, it’s not about getting or not getting what’s on my list. What really seems odd is handing someone a list and saying, “Here. Get me this stuff. I don’t really need it. But I want it. And, it will bring me momentary satisfaction if you get these things for me.”
So, I’ve tried to tell people that I don’t really need anything for Christmas. Time with friends and family truly is sufficient for me. Taking time to remember that the day is all about Jesus is sufficient for me. Having a nice meal with people I love is sufficient for me.
But, some people just won’t take a “no-list” approach. So, for those who have kept badgering me, I compiled a short list of things I truly could use. A plain black t-shirt. A plain gray t-shirt. To make it easy, Hanes puts black and gray t-shirts in a package together for less than $8. What else is on the list? A new pair of jeans and a pair of black dress pants.
What’s on your list?
Tuesdays with Morris 